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"a 250 word essay" or "a 250 words essay"

Please help, teachers
I cannot pick which one of the following expressions is correct.
a 250 word essay ?
or
a 250 words essay?
or
a 250-word essay?
or
a 250-words essay?
which one is the best usage?
please advise.
Thank you very much!

Re: "a 250 word essay" or "a 250 words essay"

Originally Posted by BBQDuck

Please help, teachers
I cannot pick which one of the following expressions is correct.
a 250 word essay ?
or
a 250 words essay?
or
a 250-word essay?
or
a 250-words essay?
which one is the best usage?
please advise.
Thank you very much!

Re: "a 250 word essay" or "a 250 words essay"

The subject is the noun 'essay' described by the compound adjective '250 word'. Clearly you never pluralize adjectives. Someone would never be beautifuls even if they possess many aspects of beauty. Even within the compound adjective we dont pluralize.

Compound adjectives may have to be hyphenated to distinguish the adjective from the noun.

Re: "a 250 word essay" or "a 250 words essay"

Originally Posted by BBQDuck

Please help, teachers
I cannot pick which one of the following expressions is correct.
a 250 word essay ?
or
a 250 words essay?
or
a 250-word essay?
or
a 250-words essay?
which one is the best usage?
please advise.
Thank you very much!

A 250(-)word essay is correct.

'250-word' is an adjectival compound and, as such, would normally be hyphenated.